Sleep Basics
I noticed I sort of jumped in a started giving you guys tips on how to fall asleep without first properly introducing sleep basics. So here I am making up for that :D
Understanding the basics of sleep is very important and will be more helpful than you may think. I don’t know how much you already know or how much you think you know, but if you are not familiar with the basics, this will definitely be launch point towards getting over insomnia and getting more energy throughout your day.
Understanding the hidden processes which control your sleep will give you a sense of power; you can study your problem, why its there, how it should be, and from that, develop a plan to get rid of it.
What Is Sleep?
It’s not until recently that scientists have come into the possession of the technology needed to measure and study precisely what happens in the human brain and body while we are sleeping.
Until the 1950s, almost everyone believed that sleep was a passive and inactive state where the mind and body are shut off and had absolutely nothing to do with our non-sleeping lives.
However, with the new research done, we have learned that our brains are in a very active state during sleep, and what occurs during sleep greatly affects our waking lives. The new technology allows sleep researchers to measure the brain’s electrical activity. These activity levels are called Electroencephalographs (EEG) recordings or, a more common term, brain waves.
Each stage represents a different mental and physical state of the body while asleep. During some stages, the body is experiencing lighter sleep (faster brain waves) and can be awakened easily. Other states indicate a very deep sleep (very slow brain waves).
Why Do We Sleep?
We are not sure why we sleep, but the two basic theories are that sleep has a restorative process and a adaptive process.
Sleep as a Restorative Function
The restorative theory of sleep suggests that sleep assists the body to recover from the work it did while awake. Research has shown that the more physical exercise we do during the day, the more slow wave sleep (SWS) we have. If you lack SWS in your sleep, you’ll likely be physically tired, anxious and irritable during the day.
Sleep as an Adaptive Function
Sleep may have evolved from our ancestor’s survival instincts to protect themselves at night. Because they couldn’t function well at night, due to their inabilities to see in the dark, search for food, and defend against predators, they instead slept.
Sleep gives your body a rest and lets it to prepare for the coming day. Sleep also gives your brain the opportunity to sort things out. Scientists believe that sleep may be the time when the brain organizes and saves information, replaces used chemicals, and solves problems.
Editors Note:
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